Looking back to Manchester United’s 1998/99 season, which was Sir Alex Ferguson’s most successful campaign as manager.
The Treble-winning season in 1999 will likely forever be seen as the greatest year in Manchester United’s history, after becoming the first English club to win all three of the biggest trophies possible.
It was a season that was characterised by incredible comeback wins, moments of last-gasp brilliance, and a sheer refusal to give up. These were key elements of a side managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, with multiple leaders on the pitch.
- Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
United were crowned Premier League champions on the final day of the season by beating Tottenham 2-1 to finish one point clear of runners-up Arsenal.
A week later, United won the FA Cup after beating Newcastle 2-0 in the final.
To top it, four days later, United won the Champions League after beating Bayern Munich 2-1 in the final.
Although United went all the way in most competitions that season, they reached the League Cup fifth round before getting knocked out against Tottenham.
It was a season that saw Ferguson’s United dominate England as well as Europe.
Season results and top scorer
- Premier League position: 1st
- Total points: 79
- FA Cup: Winners
- League Cup: Fifth round
- Champions League: Winners
- Trophies: 3
Dwight Yorke finished the season as United’s top scorer with 29 goals. The striker scored 18 goals in the Premier League and was joint Golden Boot winner with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Michael Owen.
- Top scorer: Dwight Yorke – 29
Signings
- Dwight Yorke
- Jaap Stam
- Jesper Blomqvist
- Bojan Djordjic
Memorable matches
Let’s take a look at the most memorable matches from the 1998/99 season.
Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich
It was the final piece of the Treble and arguably the most dramatic ending to a Champions League final.
Bayern Munich were the better side throughout the game as Mario Basler opened the scoring after six minutes. The scoreline remained 1-0 as the clock reached 90 minutes, before substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored in the 91st and 93rd minutes to complete the greatest comeback of all time.
United had finally reached the promised land under Ferguson.
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Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United
It was the FA Cup semi-final replay between United and Arsenal that stood out. To this day, many United fans consider it one of the greatest FA Cup ties of all time as it made the Treble possible.
David Beckham opened the scoring before Dennis Bergkamp forced an equaliser.
The challenge was made tougher when Roy Keane was sent off as well as Arsenal’s late penalty when Peter Schmeichel denied Bergkamp.
With United down to 10 men, Ryan Giggs intercepted a pass, ran from his own half, beating several Arsenal players before completing a stunning solo goal to win the tie.
Juventus 2-3 Manchester United
United travelled to Turin for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie after drawing the first game 1-1 at Old Trafford.
It was one of Keane’s best performances in a United shirt as he helped turn the game around following Filippo Inzaghi’s brace. The Republic of Ireland captain picked up a yellow card, which would rule him out of the final, but he battled on through to spark a comeback with a sublime header.
Yorke scored the equaliser, and Andy Cole scored the winner.
Manchester United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
It was the final league game that helped secure the Treble.
United had to win to ensure they were crowned champions ahead of Arsenal, but Les Ferdinand scored early on for Tottenham.
The win was secured thanks to goals from Beckham and Cole to avoid a collapse on the final day of the season.
Nottingham Forest 1-8 Manchester United
This victory was a huge statement from United to show the sheer attacking power available to Ferguson.
Solskjaer scored four goals after coming off the bench to secure the record away win. Meanwhile, Cole and Yorke scored two goals each.
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Ryan Giggs incredible honours list 🏆
- Premier League x13
- FA Cup x4
- League Cup x4
- Champions League x2
- UEFA Super Cup
- Intercontinental Cup
- Club World Cup
- Manchester United’s all-time record appearance maker
What else happened in 1998/99?
Beckham won the Football Writers’ Association award.
United also dominated the PFA Team of the Year with five players: Jaap Stam, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Keane, and Yorke.
Beckham finished second in the Ballon d’Or.
Full results
August 1998
- 09 Aug: Arsenal 3–0 Man Utd (Charity Shield)
- 12 Aug: Man Utd 2–0 LKS Lodz (Champions League Qual. 1st Leg)
- 15 Aug: Man Utd 2–2 Leicester City (Premier League)
- 22 Aug: West Ham 0–0 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 26 Aug: LKS Lodz 0–0 Man Utd (Champions League Qual. 2nd Leg)
September 1998
- 09 Sep: Man Utd 4–1 Charlton Athletic (Premier League)
- 12 Sep: Man Utd 2–0 Coventry City (Premier League)
- 16 Sep: Man Utd 3–3 Barcelona (Champions League Group)
- 20 Sep: Arsenal 3–0 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 24 Sep: Man Utd 2–0 Liverpool (Premier League)
- 30 Sep: Bayern Munich 2–2 Man Utd (Champions League Group)
October 1998
- 03 Oct: Southampton 0–3 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 17 Oct: Man Utd 5–1 Wimbledon (Premier League)
- 21 Oct: Brøndby 2–6 Man Utd (Champions League Group)
- 24 Oct: Derby County 1–1 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 28 Oct: Man Utd 2–0 Bury (League Cup 3rd Rd)
- 31 Oct: Everton 1–4 Man Utd (Premier League)
November 1998
- 04 Nov: Man Utd 5–0 Brøndby (Champions League Group)
- 08 Nov: Man Utd 0–0 Newcastle United (Premier League)
- 11 Nov: Man Utd 2–1 Nottingham Forest (League Cup 4th Rd)
- 14 Nov: Man Utd 3–2 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
- 21 Nov: Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 25 Nov: Barcelona 3–3 Man Utd (Champions League Group)
- 29 Nov: Man Utd 3–2 Leeds United (Premier League)
December 1998
- 02 Dec: Tottenham 3–1 Man Utd (League Cup Quarter-final)
- 05 Dec: Aston Villa 1–1 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 09 Dec: Man Utd 1–1 Bayern Munich (Champions League Group)
- 12 Dec: Tottenham 2–2 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 16 Dec: Man Utd 1–1 Chelsea (Premier League)
- 19 Dec: Man Utd 2–3 Middlesbrough (Premier League)
- 26 Dec: Man Utd 3–0 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
- 29 Dec: Chelsea 0–0 Man Utd (Premier League)
January 1999
- 03 Jan: Man Utd 3–1 Middlesbrough (FA Cup 3rd Rd)
- 10 Jan: Man Utd 4–1 West Ham (Premier League)
- 16 Jan: Leicester City 2–6 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 24 Jan: Man Utd 2–1 Liverpool (FA Cup 4th Rd)
- 31 Jan: Charlton Athletic 0–1 Man Utd (Premier League)
February 1999
- 03 Feb: Man Utd 1–0 Derby County (Premier League)
- 06 Feb: Nottingham Forest 1–8 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 14 Feb: Man Utd 1–0 Fulham (FA Cup 5th Rd)
- 17 Feb: Man Utd 1–1 Arsenal (Premier League)
- 20 Feb: Coventry City 0–1 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 27 Feb: Man Utd 2–1 Southampton (Premier League)
March 1999
- 03 Mar: Man Utd 2–0 Inter Milan (Champions League Quarter-final 1st Leg)
- 07 Mar: Man Utd 0–0 Chelsea (FA Cup Quarter-final)
- 10 Mar: Chelsea 0–2 Man Utd (FA Cup Quarter-final Replay)
- 13 Mar: Newcastle United 1–2 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 17 Mar: Inter Milan 1–1 Man Utd (Champions League Quarter-final 2nd Leg)
- 21 Mar: Man Utd 3–1 Everton (Premier League)
April 1999
- 03 Apr: Wimbledon 1–1 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 07 Apr: Man Utd 1–1 Juventus (Champions League Semi-final 1st Leg)
- 11 Apr: Man Utd 0–0 Arsenal (FA Cup Semi-final)
- 14 Apr: Arsenal 1–2 Man Utd (FA Cup Semi-final Replay)
- 17 Apr: Man Utd 3–0 Sheffield Wednesday (Premier League)
- 21 Apr: Juventus 2–3 Man Utd (Champions League Semi-final 2nd Leg)
- 25 Apr: Leeds United 1–1 Man Utd (Premier League)
May 1999
- 01 May: Man Utd 2–1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
- 05 May: Liverpool 2–2 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 09 May: Middlesbrough 0–1 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 12 May: Blackburn Rovers 0–0 Man Utd (Premier League)
- 16 May: Man Utd 2–1 Tottenham (Premier League)
- 22 May: Man Utd 2–0 Newcastle United (FA Cup Final)
- 26 May: Man Utd 2–1 Bayern Munich (Champions League Final)
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